Printing-plate or the like and means for securing the same in predetermined positions in printing-presses



W. C. HUEBNER.

PRINTING PLATE 0R HIE LIKE AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAME IN PREDETERMINED POSITIONS IN PRINTING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.29, I919.

Patented Sept. 20,1921.

2 SHEEISSHEEI I.

W. C. HUEBNER. PRINTING PLAI; Uh IHE LIKE AND MEANS FOR SECURING IIIE SAME IN PREDETERMINED POSITIONS IN PRINTING PRESSES. APPLICATION FILED 050.29, 1919.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

2 SHEEIS--SHEET 2.

. II! N II I-I-I-II-.I. -IINNH- IWIIII MQNI UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

\ WILLIAM C. HUEBNER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

BRINTING-PLATE 0R Application filed December 29, 1919.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, \VILLIAM C. HUnnNnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie andState of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Printing-Plates or the like of metal or other suitable material are now used, which are prepared by photographing the subjects on the photo-sensitized or sensitized surfaces of the plates or sheets and afterward suitably developing or finishing the plates. These plates are then used in a mechanical printing press for making prints therefrom in one or more colors. In the preparation and use of such printing plates it is frequently necessary to place the sameplate repeatedly in precisely the same position, or to place different plates in exactly corresponding or registering positions in the photographic printing apparatus, the printing press or other apparatus in which the plates are used. For instance, in multi-color printing, it is usual to employ a plurality of plates for the different colors and it is essential to photograph the prints for the different colors on these plates in exactly registering positions so that when the plates are used in the printing press the several color plates will accurately register. and it also equally essential that the plates for the different colors be placed in exactly corresponding positions on the cylinder or plate support-of the printing press or machine. In other words, it is essential in order to secure perfect results to be able to place the same or different plates in precisely corresponding or registering positions on the same or different supports on which the plates are mounted during their preparation or use. It is also necessary in the photographic printing apparatus or printing press or machine to hold the plate taut and smooth on the support or cylinder. In the case of off-set printing machines it is also necessary or desirable to place the off-set blanket precisely in the required predetermined position on the oft-set cylinder.

Specification of Letters Patent.

THE LIKE AND MEANS FOR SECURING THE SAME IN PREDETER- MINED POSITIONS IN PRINTING-PRESSES.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

Serial No. 348,079.

One object of this invention is to provide a thin, flexible. printing plate, or analogous sheet, and tightening and holding means for the same whereby the plate or sheet can be quickly and easily secured accurately in support, and which enables the plate to be removed and replaced .in precisely the same position on the cylinder or support, ordifferent plates to be placed in exactly corresponding or registering positions on the same or different cylinders or supports; also to provide the )late or sheet with an attached bar or rein orcement adjacent'one edge of the plate orsheet, or with parallel.

bars or einforcements adjacent opposite parallel edges of the plate or sheet. which cooperate with the parts on the cylinder or support to accurately locate the gripper edge and side guide edge of the plate or sheet on the cylinder or support and which also reinforce and protect the edge or edges of the plate or sheet and prevent the same from being creased or otherwise deformed or injured in the handling or use of the plates or sheet.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation showing the printing plate cylinder, off-set cylinder and impression cylinder of an ofi'set printing press. provided with plate or sheet holding means embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional elevation of the printing plate cylinder.

Fig. 3 is a. longitudinal sectional elevation, reduced, on line 3-3 Fig. 2 showing the holding means for one edge of the plate, on a reduced scale.

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation, enlarged, of

the movable holding member for the plate.

a predetermined required position on the cylinder of a printing press or analogous ing ofthe invention, it being understood that the improvementsdescribed in connection with the printing plate and its cylinder are applicable to the other plates or sheets and cylinders of the printing press. The

opposite edges of the printing plate .D,

which are secured to opposite holding members on the cylinder A have fixed or formed thereon relatively stifi' or rigid marginal bars or reinforcements which coiiperate with the holding devices on the cylinder. These marginal bars or reinforcements remain on the plate and serve to stiffen the edges of the plate and hold the same straight or intactso as to prevent deformation or injury to the edges of the plate and prevent the plate from being creased, dented buckled or otherwise injured in placing the plate on and removing it from the cylinder or otherwise handling the plate. Preferably, these marginal bars or reinforcements are provided on opposite parallel edges of the plate, but

certain of the advantages of the invention would result from the use of the marginal bar or reinforcement on one edge only of the plate, and except where otherwise obvious, it is not intended to limit the invention to a construction in which. the reinforcements are provided at opposite edges of the plate; As shown, each of these reinforcements consists of two narrowmetal 'bars 10 and 11 between which the edge of the plate is clamped and securely held by bolts 12 passing through the two bars. The reinforcement could, however, be differently constructed and secured to or formed on or adjacent to the edge of the plate. The

reinforcements remain on the plate and constitute substantially permanent reinforcements of the plate to protect its edges in the holding and manipulation of'the plate.

The cylinder A is provided with a holding means or member 13 adapted to receive and stationarily hold the reinforcement 11 at one edge of theplate and with a holding means or member 14 adapted to receive and hold the reinforcement 11 at the opposite edge of the plate. In order to produce a relative movement or spreading of the holding means to draw the plate taut on the surface of the cylinder, one of the holding means or members 14 is preferably mounted and adapted to be moved toward and from edge of the plate bears.

the other. The holding means 13 is preferably constructed as follows:

15 indicates a recess or depression in the cylinder. One side wall of this depression isundercut or formed with a shoulder or edge 16 against which the inner edge or shoulder of the reinforcing bar 11 at one 7 The opposite or outer edge of this bar is adapted to project under an overhanging shoulder or edge 17 which is spaced from the bottom of the recess. This overhanging shoulder is preferably formed by undercut lugs 18 on a bar 19 secured. in the recess 15. In placing the printing plate on the cylinder, the bar 11 at one edge of the plate is inserted in the.

against the overhanging shoulder 17. The

bar is preferably retained in this position by a screw 20 which passes through one of the lugs and projects under the outer edge of the reinforcing bar. WVhile this screw is desirable for retaining the bar 11 in position when placing the plate on the cylinder,

as it prevents the bar from dropping down in the recess before the opposite edge of the plate is secured, this screw is not essential for securing the plate as the'tension on the plate will hold the bar in securing position.

The holding means or member 14 for the reinforcement at the opposite edge of the plate in'so far as relates to the connection of plate reinforcement therewith, may be and,

preferably is similar to the holder above described. but this holder 14, as before stated, is movable for the purpose of stretching or drawing the'plate taut on the cylinder. As shown, the holder 14 consists of a bar 21 which is located and suitably pivoted in a cavity 22 in the side of the cylinder so that the bar can swing toward and from the holder 13. The bar 21 is provided at intervals along its length with hinge lugs 23, through which and through stationary lugs'24 secured in the bottom of the cavity, passes a pivot rod 25. A plurality of screws 26 pass through screw threaded holes in the bar 21 and hear at their ends against the side wall of the cavity 22 in the cylinder. Byturning these screws the bar ,21 can be forcibly moved away from the wall of the cylinder cavity to draw the plate taut on the cylinder. 27 represents lock nutsfor the screw 26. The holding bar21 can'be movably mounted and moved'for tightening the plate in any other suitable manner. This bar, like the holder for the reinforcement at the opposite edge of the plate, isprovided in its outer face with a recess 28 in" which the reinforcing bar 11 is reniovably held can be readily removed from the cylinder by;

turning the tightening screws 26 to slacken the plate and then removing the reinforcement from the recess in one of the holders by shifting the reinforcement 11 under the overhanging lugs 18 or 30 until its opposite edge is disengaged from theundercut shoulder. The reinforcement can then be lifted out of the recess of the holder. The reinforcement at the opposite edge of the plate can then be similarly removed from its holder. I

In order to enable the plate to be placed accurately in a predetermined position on the cylinder and to enable different plates to be placed in exactly corresponding or registering positions the plate is preferably provided with a register mark or marks 32 which coiiperate with a register mark or marks 33 on the reinforcing bar 10 so that the reinforcing bars will always occupy like positions on the plates. Then,'by placing the reinforcement or bar .11 at this edge of the plate on its holder on the cylinder with one edge of the bar bearing firmly against the fixed or stationary shoulder 16 on the cylinder, and the end or other part of the bar abutting endwise against a fixed part or stop on the cylinder, the plate will always occupy the same position on the cylinder, both with respect to its gripper edge and side edge. Preferably the cylinder is provided at one end opposite the holder recess- 15 with a fixed stop or abutment 34 against which one end of the bar or reinforcement 11 on the plate is adapted to abut. At the opposite end of the cylinder is a screw 35 or other suitable device adapted to engage the opposite end of the bar or reinforcement 11 on the plate and force the bar endwise inthe holder against the stationary stop or abutment 34. By turning this screw or device the bar or reinforcement on the plate can be forced firmly against the stationary stop or abutment and absolutely insure the accurate positioning of the plate on the cylinder.

The holder 14 is preferably provided with a similar stop 36 and screw 37 for the reinforcing bar 11 at the opposite edge of the plate so that this edge of the plate also can be secured accurately in position and insure that the side edges ofthe plate will. lie precisely in planes perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder.

I claim as my invention:

'1. The combination with-a press cylinder,

of opposite holding members thereon, means for securing the opposite edges of a flexible sheet to said holding members, said sheet having at one end thereof a fixed rigid part, and one of said holding members having a rigid part arranged to detachably engage the rigid part on the sheet to locate said sheet accurately in a predetermined position lengthwise of the sheet on the cylinder. means for relatively moving said holding members to draw the sheet taut around the cylinder, and means for moving said rigid part on the sheet lengthwise of the cylinder to a definite point to locate the sheet accurately in a predetermined position.

2. The combination with a press cylinder, of opposite holding members thereon, means for securing the opposite edges of a flexible sheet to said holding members, said sheet having at one end thereof a fixed rigid part adapted to detachably engage one of said holding members, and said holding member having a rigid part with which said rigid part on the sheet abuts to locate said sheet accurately in a predetermined position on the cylinder, means for forcing said abutting parts into contact, and means for relatively spreading said holding members to draw the sheet taut around the cylinder.

3. The combination with a press cylinder, of a holding member thereon for. one edge of a flexible sheet, a relatively stiff reinforcement on said sheet adjacent said edge thereof, means for releasably connecting said reinforcement with said holding member, a stop on said holding member against which a part of said reinforcement is adapted to abut in a direction crosswise of the sheet to accurately determine the position of the sheet on the cylinder, nd means 301* drawing the sheet taut around the cylin- 4. The combination with a press cylinder, of a holding member thereon for one edge of a flexible sheet, a relatively stiff reinforcement on said sheet adjacent said edge thereof, means for releasably connecting said reinforcement with said holding member, a stop on said holding member against which a part of said reinforcement is adapted to abut in a direction crosswise of the sheet to accurately determine the positon of the sheet on the cylinder, means arranged to engage said reinforcement and. move it endwise against said stop, and means for drawing the sheet taut around the cylinder.

5. The combination with a press cylinder, of a holding member thereon for one edge of a flexible sheet, a relatively stiff rein-- forcement on said sheet forming a projecting shoulder parallel with said edge of the sheet, means for holding said shoulder against a holding ed e onsaid holding memher, a stop on said holding member against which a part of said reinforcement is Witness my hand this 17th day of Decent aldapted to abut in a direction erosslwise of her, 1919;

he sleet to accui'atel determine t e osiw T 1 i tion of the sheet on tli e cylinder, means for VILLIAM HUEBA LL holding said reinfercelnent against said Witnesses:

stop, and means for drawing the sheet taut M. J. PITMAN,.

around the cylinder. 0. V. PARKER. 

